By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
WHILE admitting that what they do is anything but easy work, still World Wrestling Entertainment superstars are at it because of the many satisfactions they draw from it, including the genuine appreciation by fans over what they do in the ring.
And such is highlighted when they do shows in places they never get to go often like the Philippines.
Back in the country after three years, WWE did not disappoint anew as it put up a show that local fans cheered over and had a kick from right from the opening match all the way to the end of the nine-fight WWE Live Manila offering on Sept. 20.
For WWE superstar Kevin Owens, to see such kind of reception from Filipino fans makes what they do all worth it and provides a motor for them to keep going.
“Places that we don’t go to much tend to be excited to have us obviously. It’s great to go to places we don’t go all the time [like the Philippines] because we feel the people’s excitement genuinely. And that’s a good feeling for us. The enthusiasm is different as opposed to places where we always go to,” said Owens, in a roundtable session with local media on Friday at the Marco Polo Hotel in Pasig City.
“It’s great to come here and to other countries where we don’t go all the time… we get to perform for people who are really thrilled to have us there, so how would that not be a great experience for us?” he added.
It is the same sentiment that another WWE superstar, Ali, has.
“For me it’s a bit different because I’m kind of new with international events after some time doing independent events. I appreciate the excitement and how we are being received. You can it see right from the airport all the way to the event itself,” said Ali, who is having a banner year in the WWE and joined the group in 2016.
Both Owens and Ali also admitted that there are some drawbacks in the career path they have chosen, including privacy issues and spending time away from their families, but the benefits surely outweigh them.
WWE LIVE MANILA 2019
For WWE Live Manila 2019 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Friday, the first event of the group here since 2016, the WWE brought the SmackDown brand.
The crowd steadily grew as the night progressed en route to a good-sized number of spectators who enjoyed the three-hour live show.
Opening the proceedings was the battle between Kevin Owens and Andrade, which did a great job and setting the tone for the night.
Owens defeated Andrade.
Next came the clash of Chad Gable and EC3, which was ushered in by 24/7 champion R-Truth who played ring announcer.
EC3 drew jeers and laughs from the crowd when he opened the fight by blurting “Hello, Thailand!”
Gable beat EC3 but latter managed to snatch the 24/7 title from R-Truth in an unexpected turn of events after. It was short-lived, however, as R-Truth reclaimed the title from EC3 moments later to the delight of the fans.
Next came the showdown between Carmella and Mandy Rose which the former won and the Intercontinental match between champion Shinsuke Nakamura and Ali with the Nakamura getting to retain the belt in the end.
The “surprise” match between Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn followed with the former emerging on top.
An intermission ensued, after which three title matches came next.
Reigning women’s champion Bayley beat Charlotte Flair to retain her title but Flair had the last laugh as she was able powerbomb Bayley onto a table after the match.
In the SmackDown tag team championship The Revival bested The New Day to keep the title.
Capping off the night was the WWE championship match between champion Kofi Kingston and Daniel Bryan.
Bryan punished Kingston with a number of technical moves but in the end it was Kingston who emerged victorious.
